Essential Considerations When Choosing Your Wedding Venue

Choosing your wedding venue is a big part of the preparations for your big day, and it can be a tough decision. You’ll want the right ambience, the perfect surroundings, and somewhere that really suits you and your partner as a couple. For some people, that’s a traditional hotel set in the countryside. For others, it’s a quirky boutique hotel. And others prefer to go completely off piste and get married in a windmill, at a zoo, or up a mountain!

Before you rush into anything though, let’s take a step back and make sure that you’ve considered all the important bases. Asking yourself a few key questions will make sure that you’re choosing your wedding venue wisely, and that it really meets your needs.

Here are the essential considerations you need to make, sooner rather than later…

WHAT WILL THE LIGHTING BE LIKE AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY?

The lighting goes a long way towards towards creating the right kind of atmosphere for your wedding. Typically, you’ll want to find a space where it’s dark enough to be cosy, but light enough so your guests can actually see where they’re going! This is just one reason why it pays to visit your proposed venue several times, preferably in daylight and after dark. This will give you the best feel for what your day will be like.

WILL YOU BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS?

Many people are happy to travel out of their way to see their nearest and dearest tie the knot. Before you rush into booking anything though, do consider the travel plans of your guests. If they’re all coming from the same area, it might make sense for you to organise a coach or shared taxis. You should also check out the nearby accommodation options, and make sure that there’s something to suit all budgets.

IS THE VENUE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL GUESTS?

These days, venues are often very mindful of guests with disabilities or mobility issues, and adjustments have been made to ensure they can get around safely and without any issues. Still though, this is something that you need to keep in mind. Is there wheelchair access? Are ramps provided? If you know that these things will be essential for some of your guests, then make sure that you have a conversation with the owners. They should be able to explain their provisions and put your mind at ease.

WILL THE VENUE BE ACCOMMODATING OF YOUR NEEDS AND REQUESTS?

Maybe you’ve already got an outside caterer in mind that you really want to bring into a venue. Perhaps you’ve got dreams of owls flying your rings down the aisle. Hey, whatever floats your boat. Though some places will be completely accommodating, there will be others than will insist that you use their own caterers, for example. So make sure that you find out how much freedom you’ll have over your own day. Finding this out from the start prevents any nasty surprises after you’ve signed a contract or paid a deposit.

ARE YOU CHOOSING YOUR WEDDING VENUE IN LINE WITH YOUR BUDGET?

Sorry, but budgets really are super important. It’s all too easy to get carried away when you’re choosing your wedding venue and end up overspending by thousands of pounds. If cash is tight, then you may have to shop around a little bit more to find what you’re looking for. There are plenty of venues though that you can rent for a couple of hundred pounds, so don’t feel like you need to blow the vast majority of your budget. Looking for more ways to make your money go further? Check out our guide to finding a wedding dress for less than £100.